Vampire Lane (4 page)

“Yes, Laya. Guest list tomorrow,” she grumbled.

Tanek smiled, hoping this distraction would take all the attention off him and into a new direction.

Chapter 6

Natasha walked inside the door, and the smell of cooking food immediately hit her senses. She walked toward the kitchen and found Maureen cooking at the stove, wearing her sweat pants and a tank top.

She slammed down her purse, and Maureen turned around and smiled and ran over to Natasha and hugged her. “I made dinner, or breakfast, or whatever. I can never figure out the vampire meal timing.”

“I eat dinner before dawn. Maureen, what are you doing here? Why are you wearing my clothes?”

Maureen looked at Natasha. “I couldn’t pay my rent.” Natasha heard the fear in Maureen’s voice. “I went back today after you left and the locks were changed. I called the landlord, but he won’t let me back in until I pay back the money I owe. He wouldn’t even let me get my stuff. I’m sorry, Tasha. I didn’t know where else to go.”

Natasha sat down at the kitchen table. She wanted to live alone. But she liked Maureen, so how could she just turn her away? “Do you have anyone you can stay with?” Natasha asked.

“My parents weren’t the best; we haven’t spoken in years. I have a sister, but she lives in Las Vegas and I don’t want to move. I love it here. Please let me stay just until I can save enough for another place.”

“Okay,” Natasha finally said after a dramatic pause. The more she thought about it, the more she was beginning to like the idea. She could be a good influence on Maureen and help her to get moving along a better path in life.

“Okay?”

“Yes, okay I will let you stay. However, it comes with a few conditions … I want you to look for a job where you don’t get bit every night and you’re in charge of cooking all my meals.”

Maureen squealed. “Thanks, Tasha, you won’t regret it. Let me get plates so we can eat.” Maureen ran over to the stove and grabbed two places, adding heaps of food to each, and carried them over to the table. Natasha never ate when she was with Godfryd; he said vampires should only drink blood. Since leaving him, she slowly started eating again. It helped with her blood cravings, and she honestly felt more human when she ate.

“So what deliciousness have you prepared?"

"Seasoned pork chops, spinach with cheese, and scalloped potatoes."

"This smells amazing. Thank you, Maureen."

Maureen blushed and began eating. Natasha followed and also began eating. She cut a small piece of the pork chop and put it in her mouth and chewed. The flavors exploded. It was delicious. She chewed and took a bite of one of the side dishes. Everything was so good. She wasn’t sure if it was the food or the fact she hadn't eaten very much in a very long time.

"Tasha?"

"Yes."

"I want to offer you my blood after dinner. It's the least I can do.”

"You really don't have to do that. I have synthetic blood."

"I know, but it's just that I want to offer you something. It would make me feel like less of a leach.”

Natasha was trying really hard to stay off the fresh stuff, but she couldn't help but to imagine the taste of Maureen's delicious blood. Without thinking, she nodded.

"Great! It's almost dawn; did you need to get ready for bed?" Maureen asked.

"Yes, it's getting late. I will call for you when I'm ready."

Natasha got up from the table after taking one more bite. She walked to her room on the second floor. The windows were big and open. She liked the view of the neighborhood. It was a reminder of how far she had come. She stripped down and put on her nightgown. It was a black satin, sleeveless, airy, and almost like not wearing anything. She took down her hair and brushed it. She was second guessing herself. Why was she considering feeding live again? Human were not cattle; they were living beings that deserved respect. Not an after dinner snack.

"Maureen!" Natasha yelled.

She heard steps and then the door opened. Maureen entered and took off her sweatpants, leaving only a tank top and panties on. Whatever Natasha was about to say was erased with a hunger for fresh blood.

Natasha's fangs came down hard and sharp. She was at Maureen's neck liking the salty skin and then sinking her fangs deep inside in the blink of an eye.

Maureen yelped and then moaned at the pleasure associated with giving blood. Natasha drank greedily, but knew she could only take a little. She pulled out and sealed the puncture marks with her saliva. Natasha fell onto her bed into an exhausted heap as the automatic blinds came down. It was now dawn and she couldn't keep her eyes open. Maureen crawled into bed with Natasha as she did the night before. Natasha liked this. She felt like, for once, someone cared and wanted what was best for her.

Chapter 7

Natasha awoke to the doorbell and pounding at her door. The blinds were still down. It was much too early, so whoever it was better be half dead to warrant waking her up that early. She peaked out the peephole to find Tanek and Laya waiting on the doorstep. She took a deep breath and cracked open the door.

"Are you dying?" Natasha asked sternly.

"Natasha, it's me, Laya from the bar. I'm here with Tanek."

"I know who you are. What I am trying to figure out is why have you come to my house in the middle of the day?"

"Sweetie, can we come in? It's hot out here."

Natasha moved aside, letting them both inside.

"So I'm guessing you’re not a day person."

“My sire kept an evening schedule. I never learned to cope with the sun." Natasha grumbled, sitting on the couch and curling up sleepily.

“I have agreed to throw a baby shower. Laya is helping, but we need your help, too. The bar, food, and drinks are my contribution. Laya says you two could do the rest."

"I said we would plan the rest; you will still be helping Mr. Fangtastic," Laya retorted.

"I think you became my friend just so you can freely insult me," Tanek said playfully.

Natasha finally started waking up a bit. She knew if she had any hope of staying awake, she needed a coffee and a bag of blood. She stood up, stretched, and started for the kitchen. "Whoever wants coffee, follow me."

Tanek and Laya followed and sat at the kitchen table. Natasha picked out three pods for her one cup at a time coffee maker. A minute later, the first one finished and she passed it to Laya. Tanek was already digging into the fridge, and pulled out some creamer for the coffee. Laya took it and poured a generous amount into her cup, followed by some sugar. She sipped at it as Natasha sat down with two more cups, one for her and one for Tanek.

"So a baby shower, huh?"

"My best friend who used to work at the bar, too," Laya replied.

"That's sweet. I have to tell you, I have never been to or planned a baby shower before."

"It's not that hard—silly baby games followed by presents and lots of food and drink."

"Sounds like fun." Natasha made up her coffee the way she liked it, and then she finally started sipping it. What she really wanted to do was down it in one delicious gulp. Her eyes were so heavy, she was really struggling.

"Why don't you get a bit more sleep, Natasha? I can see this is too much for you. A vampire can’t just wake up the middle of the day first time out. I will wake you one hour before sunrise. Laya and I will get things rolling, and when you awaken, you can help out." Tanek smiled and helped Natasha from her chair. Without protest, he scooped her up and carried her to her room. Natasha immediately fell asleep in his arms before she could even tell him what room was hers.

***

Tanek stood over Natasha as he watched her sleep. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. He shook her gently, trying to wake her, but she didn't move a muscle. He put his lips up to her ear and in a stern loud voice, he yelled. "Get up, get up!"

Natasha jumped in the air with her fangs out on alert at the suddenness of the wake-up call.

Tanek smiled. He thought she looked cute with her fangs out.

"Are you insane?" she growled.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead. Day one of Vampire 101 … get used to the daylight.”

“Why are you torturing me? Why do I need to get used to daylight? I have a night job. Even humans who work nights sleep the day away.”

“Natasha, please sit here,” Tanek said, patting the space on the bed beside him.

***

Natasha sat next to him. She started out a grump, but now that she calmed down, she couldn’t help but notice how great he smelled and how being near him affected her.

“I don’t want to pry, but you said your sire released you.”

“Yes, he still lives in California.”

“Was he a traditionalist?”

Natasha knew exactly what he was asking. Many new vampires wouldn’t, but she had the misfortune of being turned by a very old vampire. He believed in living in secrecy and thought humans were only good for feeding and fucking.

“How bad was it?” Tanek asked.

“I slept in a coffin with him. He said it was my duty to be with him whenever he wanted. I wanted to be free of him, so I always did as he asked, hoping he would eventually let me go. He only let me feed live and I often had to have sex with the women afterward while he watched. I hated him; I still hate him.”

“I’m sorry, Natasha. I know talking about this must be hard. You don’t have to tell me anymore if you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to. I need to tell someone. We slept underground in an old cave in a nature preserve. It had electricity and running water, but it was still horrible. About a century ago, after a failed escape, he finally released me. I wandered around the country for about sixty years before I heard about this place and moved here.”

“I want to help you get the training you should have gotten. I want to help you to be a modern vampire.”

“I appreciate that, but I have managed just fine by myself.” Natasha stood up and walked over to her closet.

She took a dress off the hanger and walked into the bathroom. She slipped on the simple sundress. She did not feel like figuring out a top and bottom combo at the moment. She threw her hair in a ponytail and came out to find Tanek standing there waiting. She was thrown totally off guard when he pushed her up against the wall and kissed her. Natasha only resisted a moment before she surrendered to his kiss. Her mouth opened and her fangs came down. His tongue caressed her as she gripped his shirt, holding him to her. She hissed with pleasure, he picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around him. He tried carrying her to the bed, but ran into the dresser and leaned up against it. Tanek then pulled away from the kiss.

“I’m sorry, Natasha. We shouldn’t be doing this,” Tanek said breathlessly.

“You started it. Are you going to finish it?” she asked.

Natasha looked as the door cracked open, and Maureen peaked though the door.

"Are you okay, Tasha?”

"Yes, it’s fine, Maureen. You can go back to sleep."

"I'm not tired. Can I stay with you?"

“You have a live-in?"

"It's not like that. She's my friend. I'm helping her find a better job and get away from being every vampire’s next meal."

"I could use another bartender if you’re interested, Maureen?” Tanek asked her.

"Tanek, you don't have to do that. She can find her own job."

"No, I want it; that would be great,” Maureen said excitedly.

"You start tonight … one hour … see Jason. I will let him know to expect you."

Maureen ran out of the bedroom, and once again Tanek and Natasha were all alone. She thought about kissing him, but didn’t want to seem too eager. She wanted him to just think about the kiss, let it fester it for a while until he had to have her.

Chapter 8

Natasha sat at her kitchen table with Tanek and Laya. She wondered if Laya had any idea what happened between them. She was a witch, she recently learned, so she could have seen something in her witchy vision or something, she guessed.

"So while you slept, I ran over to Gretchen's and got the invite list. It's not that long, of course. It's mostly Gretchen's family. Adrian doesn't socialize much, and most Fae hate coming to the human realm."

"So what do I need to do?" Natasha asked.

"I need you to plan what games we will play. This will be a shower for men and women, so keep that in mind. Just do research online."

"Of course." Natasha ran over to grab her laptop, and set it on the table and turned it on. She did a search on baby shower games and came up with a dozen possibilities.

"Natasha, it's almost sunrise,” Tanek interrupted. “How are you feeling?"

"Not bad, a bit tired but not bad."

"Good, let’s go for a walk"

"Outside? I can’t.”

"Yes, you can,” he said sternly.

"That's a great idea," Laya chimed in. "Take a walk, and I will go grab dinner and be right back."